Key facts
- Only 15% of Japan's merchant vessels were registered in the country as of June 2025.
- The transportation step would apply to vessels owned by Japanese companies' overseas subsidiaries.
Japan is planning to expand its emergency fleet by allowing foreign-flagged ships, owned by overseas subsidiaries of domestic companies, to be recognized as Japanese-flagged vessels. This initiative is slated to be implemented as early as fiscal year 2027. The measure aims to increase the number of vessels available for mobilization during national emergencies. As of June 2025, only 15% of Japan's merchant vessels were registered domestically.